Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro & Neville def. Rusev, Sheamus & King Barrett (Kickoff Match)

 

LOS ANGELES – WWE Hell in a Cell Kickoff’s huge Six-Man Tag Team Match turned up the heat in the STAPLES Center, as Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro & Neville triumphed over King Barrett, Sheamus & Rusev in a red-hot showdown.

On one side of the squared circle stood a commanding trio of foreign brutes, consisting of WWE’s strongest and toughest Superstars. On the opposite side stood an ultra-talented trio of competitors who each possess elite levels of athleticism and tons of untapped potential. Battling in a hellacious clash in front of the City of Angels, it was the latter that proved to be the stronger alliance.

The commanding forces of The King of the Ring, The Celtic Warrior & The Super Athlete dominated their competition over recent weeks, but when tasked with the challenge of slowing down three of the ring’s most exciting Superstars on the Kickoff Sunday night, they just could not keep up.

Photos: Ziggler, Cesaro & Neville battle King Barrett, Sheamus & Rusev

Ziggler, Cesaro & Neville wasted no time wowing the WWE Universe, as The Man That Gravity Forgot used The Swiss Superman’s back to deliver a jaw-dropping splash on their Irish foe. Every time momentum seemed to swing in favor of the athletic trio, however, the King, The Bulgarian Brute or Mr. Money in the Bank would each use his brute force to put a stop to it.

The pace of the contest soon slowed, favoring the more powerful competitors. The brawlers set their sights on The Showoff, punishing the former World Heavyweight Champion with a ground-and-pound offense.

A missed splash in the corner from Rusev – sending the Bulgarian Superstar face-first into the ring post – opened up an opportunity for Ziggler to tag in The King of Swing. Cesaro proceeded to clean house, sprinting around the ring, uppercutting his opponents. The athletic display not only impressed the capacity crowd in Los Angeles, but The Cosmic Wasteland, who once again seated themselves in the “Stardust Section” at ringside.

After launching his own teammate, Neville, onto Rusev and Sheamus outside the ring, Cesaro looked like he was about to be on the receiving end of a Bull Hammer Elbow. Fortunately, Ziggler intercepted the grizzly brawler with a superkick. The maneuver allowed Cesaro to bring the WWE Universe to its feet with a giant swing, and as luck would have it, the dizzied Brit was left lying on his back in perfect position for the high-flying Neville to connect with the Red Arrow for an emphatic victory.